Department of Kinesiology

Sport Management Major

Internships

Students have the opportunity to gain practical work
experience, learn new skills, and develop professional
contacts through internships. The internship is a
critical component of the Sport Management major. This
3 unit hour experience (minimum of 120 contact hours) must
be completed during the junior or senior years under the
direction of work site supervisor. Internships provide an
excellent opportunity for students to gain work experience
and create contacts in the sport industry. One internship is
required in the program, however, students are encouraged to
complete a second internship for unit (as an elective).

Benefits of learning experiences available to students during
their internship include (but are not limited to):

observation of professionals in the field.

participation in the decision-making process.

demonstration of leadership and organizational skills.

development of professional contacts.

accumulation of practical experiences that will assist
in future job searches.

In order for a site and/or position to be approved for a student to undertake for internship credit (as long as they meet the prerequisites) through Towson's Sport Management program, the organization needs to assess these concerns:

The site...

Cannot be a current place of employment or a family owned establishment (i.e., the student's family)

Cannot be solely sport coaching (i.e., if coaching is the determined career path, the student must have a role that goes beyond that of coach, and must be properly mentored - e.g., work with head coach/athletic director, etc.

Cannot be observational in nature

Must allow student to be an active participant at this site (i.e., the student cannot simply implement plans already put into place)

Supervisor must have a minimum of three years of experience in the field

Supervisor must have direct contact with the student at all times

Supervisor must have appropriate qualifications for the field

Experience Objectives...
The organization must agree to structure the position so it meets the criteria of a bona fide internship as outlined by NACE, the National Association of College and Employers:

The experience must be an extension of the classroom: a learning experience that provides for applying the knowledge gained in the classroom. It must not be simply to advance the operations of the employer or be the work that a regular employee would routinely perform.

The skills or knowledge learned must be transferable to other employment settings

The experience has a defined beginning and end, and a job description with desired qualifications

There are clearly defined learning objectives/goals related to the professional goals of the student's academic coursework

There is supervision by a professional with expertise and educational and/or professional background in the field of the experience

There is routine feedback by the experienced supervisor

There are resources, equipment, and facilities provided by the host employer that support learning objctives/goals

The supervisor and student should...

Agree upon and provide a written summarization describing activities, events, and project expectations

Agree upon hours per week and daily work schedule required

Discuss assignments, evaluation, and grading process

Towson University is ideally located in the metropolitan
Baltimore-Washington area with access to a large number of
internship sites within the sport industry. Students have had the opportunity to complete
internships within the following sites: Baltimore Orioles,
Baltimore Ravens, Baltimore Blast, Baltimore Bayhawks, Towson
University athletic department, Towson University Event and
Conference Services, DC United, USOC, New York Jets, Ripken
Foundation, Bowie Baysox, Bally's Total Fitness, ... (sample
listing - not all inclusive). The internship site may be
selected from an existing database of sites or the student has
the option to create their own internship experience. Further
details may be obtained from the Towson University Career
Center.The Career Center is located in
Suite 315 in 7800 York Road.

Registration Instructions

KNES 395: Kinesiology (Sport Management) Internship

In order to be eligible for a credit-based internship, you must meet the following criteria (prior to the start date of your proposed internship):
o Attend the REQUIRED internship meeting the semester prior to your proposed internship (i.e., FALL meeting for winter/spring interns OR SPRING meeting for summer/fall interns)

Completed, earning a minimum of a 'C', KNES 333 (SPORT MANAGEMENT).

Earned a minimum of 72 credit hours.

Have a second-semester JUNIOR standing.

Prior to submitting and/or filling out paperwork, you must contact a site and secure an experience (this is YOUR responsibility!). In order to find a site, you can:

If you are not sure if your selection will fit the criteria for an 'appropriate,' and therefore approved, internship site, please feel free to send the Internship Coordinator a description of the site and an outline of your potential experience (a preliminary verification may be necessary if the site/experience does not directly relate to your degree progress, application of your course materials, or the discipline as a whole).

For approval, the following must be reviewed and/or completed:

Internship Syllabus - must be read and followed carefully.

Internship Description Form - to be filled out by your site supervisor (you cannot fill it out) and returned to the Internship Coordinator for approval (TWO copies).

Internship Registration Form (contract) - filled out by you (TWO copies) and returned to the Internship Coordinator (with Description Form) for approval.

Approval deadlines will be discussed at the internship meeting - you must have your internship paper submitted, approved, and become registered by the date discussed at that time.